Fauci: An increase in cases may not be tantamount to a renewal of restrictive measures

A possible increase in Covid-19 cases in the United States may not equate to a full-scale exacerbation or renewal of restrictions, said Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, Anthony Fauci.

“The bottom line is that we are likely to see an increase in cases, as we have seen in European countries, especially in the United Kingdom,” Fauci told ABC’s “This Week” today. “We hope we do not see an increase. I do not think we will not see.”

Omicron strain BA.2 variant increases cases in Europe and Asia, mainly in Hong Kong, and now accounts for about 30% of infections in the US, where indoor masking and vaccination certificates have been largely abolished. .

While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has argued that the United States should be prepared to take action again, such as requiring masking indoors, Fauci said, “Right now, at this point, I do not see that.” .

Cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the US continue to decline. BA.2 strain is about 50% more contagious than the original Omicron strain, but does not cause more serious illness or penetrate vaccine immunity or a previous infection, Fauci said.

Fauci, now 81, has put an end to speculation that he may be about to retire. “I can not stay in this job forever,” he told ABC last week.

“I want to make sure we’re really done with it before I seriously think about doing anything different,” he said on Sunday. “We are still in it. We still have a long way to go. I think we are clearly moving in the right direction. I hope we stay in that direction.”